Again, thanks everyone for your suggestions. Here are my disappointed
results so far. I have re-copied my original message below in case somebody
gets another inspiration.
Roger,
I tried it with logo animation off -- no improvement.
Clarence,
I trimmed the config.sys down to almost nothing and started without any
autoexec.bat, hoping to rule out any memory issue or utility conflicts. It
didn't make any apparent difference in Arachne performance or page download
success.
Sergei,
I will try to get proxy server name/addresses from both Freewwweb and
Compuserve ISPs. But I still wonder why another Freewwweb user in my local
area can surf with Arachne via Freewwweb with no HTTPproxy setting.
-- Original Message --
I've been trying for months, off and on, to get past "Arachne load error".
I seem to have gotten further than many new Arachne users. For now, it is
version 1.50 (had the same trouble with version 1.49). Let me know if you
think 1.60 has any real chance of faring better.
I've tried it on two machines --one a 386 with 2 megs of RAM and the other a
486 with 8 megs RAM -- same symptoms on both. Using MS-DOS 6.22, no EMS,
DOS loaded high. Before starting Arachne MEM shows 697k of conventional
memory free and 6.9 MB XMS free. I have tried to configure it as simply as
possible. Modem is a US Robotics internal set to port 1, irq 4. I tried
setting slower speeds. I have tried substituting the actual port address in
the Arachne.cfg, but it makes no difference --connection is usually
successful anyway. I am using everything as the Arachne installation set up
automatically.
I have a Compuserve account and a Freewwweb account. I can connect to both.
After dialing, it returns "Installed packet driver handler at vector 0x60".
Then it tries to locate the start page. I have verified that both
Compuserve and Freewweb are assigning a new IP. On exit from Arachne, the
Arachne system variables all show values (MYIP, REMIP, NETMASK, PEERMRU --
though Freewwweb assigns 0.0.0.0 to NETMASK). I have been careful to clear
the cache (F8) and either reboot or SET MYIP= before each redial while
testing. MYIP always shows a new value.
With Compuserve it is more successful. Arachne starts downloading the
assigned start page. Sometimes it will finish. Usually it stalls, while
the X-I logo keeps animating the lightning pattern. After a long wait, I
will try pressing R to refresh, or G to enter another URL and the status
line will change to "Connecting to home.arachne.cz [or whatever URL], port
80", stalled again with the X-I logo showing the multicolored spiral
animation. Then I will try pressing G again for another URL. Status line
changes to "Asking for domain name server for [whatever URL]" and the X-I
logo animates the blue/green square pattern. Finally it times out, reads
"Cannot locate computer [URL]" and goes to the Arachne Load Error screen
"Cannot open connection/ Arachne was unable to load requested URL/ Possible
reasons:" and none of the reasons or Arachne documentation is much help.
But even if the start page finishes loading, any attempt to hyperlink or go
to a new URL just stalls again in the same way.
With Freewwweb, it dials, connects, "Installed packet driver . . ." and
assigns IP. Then the status line reads "Asking domain name server for
[start URL --doesn't matter which one I try]". Finally it times out, status
"Cannot locate computer [URL] and goes to the same Arachne Load Error page.
I have tried lengthening the time out, but it doesn't seem to matter. I
have tried substituting an Arachne.cfg used successfully by another
Freewwweb subscriber in my local Los Angeles metro area, but I get the very
same symptoms.
Before I post copy of my own Arachne.cfg or other details, I am hoping that
one of you expert Arachnites will recognize these symptoms. Looks like a
great program, and a perfect way to salvage several cast off DOS machines .
. . if only I could get it to surf beyond the start page. And I was hoping
to give up Compuserve in favor of Freewwweb. I have searched every Arachne
help file and various installation notes posted on Compuserve forums and
other web sites. I have lurked this mail list for some time hoping to spy
some clue. Are Arachne-Digest discussions archived anywhere?
Steve
